Background tank fill based on refrigerant composition

The disclosure relates generally to automotive vehicle air conditioning systems, and more specifically to refrigerant recovery units for recovering and recycling blended refrigerant from an automotive vehicle air conditioning (hereinafter “A/C”) system.

Automotive vehicle A/C systems require maintenance. Maintenance includes refrigerant recovery, evacuation and recharging of the A/C system. Portable refrigerant recovery units are used in connection with this maintenance. The refrigerant recovery units connect to the A/C system of the automotive vehicle to recover refrigerant out of the system, separate out contaminants and oil, and recharge the system with additional refrigerant.

At least one embodiment of the disclosure is a unit for recovering refrigerant from a vehicle A/C system, which includes a first container for holding a primary supply of refrigerant having a first refrigerant composition, and a second container for holding a secondary supply of refrigerant having a second refrigerant composition. The second container is in fluid communication with the first container so fluid can be transferred from the second container to the first container. An electronic controller means is provided for controlling the transfer of fluid from the second container to the first container. A composition analyzing device is operatively engaged to the first container and constructed and arranged to determine the chemical composition of the refrigerant in the first container.

Other embodiments provide, a method for using a refrigerant recovery unit for adjusting a chemical composition of refrigerant recovered from a refrigerant system comprises weighing the recovered refrigerant to obtain a weight; comparing the weight of the recovered refrigerant to a minimum weight; analyzing the chemical composition of the recovered refrigerant; and comparing the chemical composition of the refrigerant to a target composition.

Still other embodiments show a method for using a refrigerant recovery unit to adjust the composition of a recovered refrigerant comprises weighing the recovered refrigerant; comparing the weight of the recovered refrigerant to a minimum weight; adding a recharging refrigerant to the recovered refrigerant to form a combined refrigerant, the recharging refrigerant having a predetermined chemical composition of chemical components by percentage of weight of each component; weighing the combined refrigerant; and comparing the weight of the combined refrigerant with a maximum weight.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, certain embodiments of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof herein may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional embodiments of the invention that will be described below and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of embodiments in addition to those described and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.